HEALTHY LIFESTYLE · JULY 2018
Just imagine it- freedom
from work. That means not
having to check voicemails
and emails constantly after
you’ve left for the day. And
you may think that working
hard without a break makes
you a more valuable asset to
your employer- but you’d be
wrong. A Lexis Nexis survey
canvassed workers across
5 countries to discover just
how workers are feeling.
Information overload has left
over 50% at breaking point.
Many workers admit that
they feel obliged to check
emails while vacationing.
That is not a true break.
STAYCATION
V
acation time is important, and
as it stands most of Americans
only use half of their paid
vacation days. Add that to the
fact that Americans have the
least paid vacation time across the world
and you wonder how we don’t collapse
into nervous breakdowns twice a year. NPR
details just how different paid vacations are
across the world, highlighting that on average
Americans have just 12 days, while the law
protects those in Germany with up to 20,
the Netherlands guarantees 26 days, and
the UK offers 28. A Harris Interactive survey
discovered that Americans have on average
9 vacation days remaining at the end of the
period.
WebMD discusses the importance of taking
breaks. Being unable to disconnect from
work affects personal relationships, and your
overall health and wellbeing. Additionally, up
to 8 weeks after your break, you can be left
with that feel good boost.
NOT EVERYONE IS IN A
FINANCIAL POSITION TO
HEAD OFF TO EUROPE OR
HAWAII. IT DOESN’TA HAVE
TO BE A LUXURIOUS BREAK
FOR YOU TO SEE THE TRUE
EFFECTS OF A VACATION.
The majority of Americans
are under stress, and
whether it may come from
our working lives, family
or monetary issues, the
toll of can be massive.
Stress impacts our immune
systems- making it difficult
to resist infections or avoid
injury. Being stressed out
interferes with sleep, too,
and when you’re tired and
stressed out, you are even
more susceptible to illness
or accidents. Additionally, it
has an impact on digestion. Then there is
the mental toll it is taking- it can leave you
irritable and anxious, as well as in a state of
depression. Your memory begins to fail, and
you are left making poor decisions.
Vacations are an opportunity to break the
cycle of stress. Don’t worry if you can’t make
it out of town; you can make a staycation
work for you just as well as a spa retreat.
Even if you can escape for a couple of days
out of your week to stay at a local hotel, do it.
Allow yourself the time to shut off and relax.
There are plenty of sites to help you find
exactly what you’re looking for at a price you
can afford, so check them out: booking.com,
hotelfinder.com, Best Hotel Offers, and more.
Never feel guilty about taking vacation time,
and don’t feel tempted to check your emails
or messages.
By Claudia Portillo
32 HEALTHY MAGAZINE